The outcome was as expected, even if the method was not, as Kerry booked a place in the Electric Ireland Munster MFC final with victory over Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium last night. Rated as short as 1/50 with the bookmakers, the hosts looked good in the first half, but allowed 14-man Waterford into the game after half-time. Kerry manager Mick Ned O’Sullivan would have liked it done in a better fashion. “It’s a work-in-progress,” he said. “We played well against the wind for 20 minutes in the first half but then I felt the lads stood back and thought that they had their job done. Young lads can take their foot off the pedal, they’re only learning to be ruthless and they’re not ruthless yet anyway.”

While Conor Gleeson’s free had equalised Jack Savage’s opener for the hosts, Micheál Burns restored Kerry’s lead and then, in the ninth minute, wing-back David Foran’s surging run was rewarded as Savage’s flick fell into his hands and he swept his finish past Craig Brown. Playing with the wind, Kerry were stronger in all areas as Waterford suffered a lack of chances to get together since beating Limerick in the first round. With the benefit of three games before this, it looked like the Kerry management were close to their best. Cian O’Connor, who came into midfield alongside Kieran Murphy, dominated the skies while Horan, who was in the half-forward line, exerted more influence from centre-forward.

Goalscorer Foran had gone in the opposite direction, but was still a threat from deep, while Éanna Ó Conchúir, who was earlier deployed in midfield, formed a fluid full-forward line with captain Savage and Conor Keane. Both corner-forwards benefited from nice interplay to boost their tallies in the first half while Killian Spillane also looked bright at times, and Keane’s point from Savage’s pass made it 1-6 to 0-2 by the 16th minute. Defensive questions remained for Kerry, however. A storming run from Waterford midfielder Tom Devine resulted in a goal chance for full-forward Kevin Daly then, but Kerry keeper Shane Ryan saved well, not for the first time in Kerry’s provincial campaign. By half-time, Kerry’s lead was 1-9 to 0-4, and it would have been more had Keane not shot wide from close range after he had done well to bring down an Éanna Ó Conchúir delivery.

With only Willie Hahessy getting on the scoresheet for Waterford alongside Gleeson, however, the visitors’ task going into the second half was a big one, and it became even more difficult when full-back Tomás Cooney was sent off for two bookings within five minutes of the restart, Savage extending Kerry’s lead with a free. Just as he had during the first half, though, Devine slalomed through the Kerry cover from midfield, this time opting to shoot himself, firing high past Ryan to leave six points in it. After Waterford’s Paul O’Connor answered Savage’s sixth point with a free at the other end, the same gap — 1-11 to 1-5 — pertained with fewer than 20 minutes left. Kerry’s attacking play was not as keyed in as the first half, Savage’s free-taking reliability notwithstanding, and Waterford goalkeeper Brown had more than one point attempt drop into his grasp. Matthew Flaherty should also have scored a second Kerry goal but he shot high and wide, but when Waterford won a 54th-minute penalty after a footblock on Hahessy’s effort, Cormac Curran put his effort outside the post. When they were awarded another as Ryan was judged to have fouled Devine, Gleeson took it and scored, but it was too late to matter.

The Kerry Team to play Waterford in the Electric Ireland Munster GAA Minor Football Championship Semi Final in Fitzgerald Killarney on Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm shows three changes in personnel and a number of positional changes from the side that defeated Clare in the semi final playoff. Cian O’Connor, who comes in at midfield to partner Kieran Murphy, and Michéal Burns who starts at wing forward, were both introduced against Clare while Eanná Ó Conchúir returns from injury at full forward. Kevin Shanahan, Conor Jordan and Shane O’Connor are the players to lose out. Among the positional changes are ; David Foran moves from wing forward to wing back and Greg Horan moves in the opposite direction from the half back line to centre forward. The team is as follows:

1. Shane Ryan Rathmore

2. Brian Sugrue Renard

3. Cathal Ó Luing An Ghaeltacht

4. Fionán Clifford Waterville

5. Matthew Flaherty Daingean Uí Chúis

6. Pádraig Ó Conchúir Daingean Uí Chúis

7. David Foran St Senans

8. Kieran Murphy Glenflesk

9. Cian O’Connor Castleisland Desmonds

10. Michéal Burns Dr Crokes

11. Greg Horan Austin Stacks

12. Killian Spillane Templenoe

13. Conor Keane Killarney Legion

14. Éanna Ó Conchúir An Ghaeltacht

15. Jack Savage Kerins O’Rahillys

16. Darragh O’Shea Ballydonoghue

17. Shane O’Connor John Mitchels

18. Kevin Shanahan Ardfert

19. Conor Jordan Austin Stacks

20. Barry O’Sullivan Daingean Uí Chúis

21. Tom O’Sullivan Daingean Uí Chúis

22. Tony Brosnan Dr Crokes

23. Conor O’Shea St Marys

24. Cian Sayers Kerins O’Rahillys

Management Team:

Bainsteoir: Mickey Ned O’Sullivan (Kenmare)

Selectors: John O’Keeffe (Austin Stacks), Peter Keane (St Marys)

The Waterford Minor Football team to play Kerry on Wednesday night in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Semi Final in Killarney on Wednesday night at 7:00pm.

Lost to Kerry by 1-14 to 1-3 in the Semi-Final 1st Playoff at Fraher Field Dungarvan

Lost to Tipperary in the first round before qualifying for the Munster Final with victories over Waterford, Limerick and Clare. Lost to Tipperary by 2-14 to 1-14 in the Munster Final. Defeated Roscommon by 1-9 to 0-11 in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final before losing to Dublin in the All-Ireland Semi-Final by 3-12 to 1-10

The Tadhg Crowley Cup was presented by Munster Council in 1990 to commemorate late Munster Council Treasurer. Tadhg was elected as Munster Council Treasurer in 1968 and served until his death in December 1989. A teacher by profession, he also served as Kerry County Board Secretary from 1955 until 1970. Tadhg was recognized as a specialist in organizing and handling styles and gates at Munster Championship games.

All Ireland Minor Football Championship

In the Minor Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry top the charts with 11 titles while Cork are tied for second with Dublin with 10 titles. Clare won the first All-Ireland Minor Football title in 1929 while Tipperary’s two All-Ireland successes at this grade came in 1934 and 2011. Between them Munster counties have accounted for 24 All-Ireland Minor Football titles, ahead of Leinster and Ulster (20 titles each) and Connacht (17 titles).